Join our amazing team of volunteers running new support groups for kinship carers – either Face-to-Face or online.
At Kinship we know how important peer support groups are. They are a vital source of information, comfort, and a place to share experiences for kinship carers.
Kinship groups, which can be in-person or online, help to reduce the isolation kinship carers can feel. They create a space where carers can come together and connect with others who have similar experiences, build friendships, and support each other in their caring role.
Group leaders play an important role in starting new groups and growing them to reach as many kinship carers as possible.
Group leaders are often kinship carers themselves, but they can also be other adults who share a real passion and a commitment to supporting kinship carers.
With the right experience and passion for supporting kinship carers, non-kinship carer group leaders can make a difference by bringing kinship carers together, facilitating a group and helping to build confidence in group members.
This is therefore expected to be a short-term role, initially for 6 months, as we anticipate that, in time, kinship carers will take over the running of the group, as it is important that kinship carers can shape a group in a way that best meets their needs.
We are looking for someone who:
Is passionate about supporting kinship carers and looking for an opportunity to make a real difference to their lives by bringing people together
Is experienced with working with adults in a peer support environment, supporting kinship carers or other related experience
Communicates sensitively, in a way that supports and empowers kinship carers, without giving advice
Can build a rapport with people and put them at ease in a group
Has access to a telephone and a computer with the internet or a smart phone
Has basic IT skills – and is confident and able to communicate effectively using email, (and willing to be trained to use Zoom if hosting an online group)
Has confidence to run a group and facilitate some difficult discussions.
What will you be doing?
As a group leader your role is to:
Set up, maintain, and run the group
Act where necessary for the purposes of the safety and inclusion of all group members
Promote the group and recruit new members
Support the development and structure of the group
Keep the group going over time.